Javier Godoy provided information.
It was a sad NWSL SuperSaturday for the Reign. In front of 3007 fans at the Cheney Stadium, the OL Reign lost 3×0 against the NY/NJ Gotham FC.
It was a hot one as well, because the game was played during a heat wave which pushed the temperature to 96ºF during certain spots of the game, forcing the teams to take two hydration breaks.
In the first half, both teams started trying to find out the best way to reach the first goal. Megan Rapinoe, Eugénie Le Sommer and Jess Fischlock created good opportunities. Even so, Gotham’s defenders were able to block their attempts.
In all the offensive plays conducted by the Reign, the forwards were constantly getting ahead and sneaking behind the Gotham FC defenders. However, the lack of midfielders joining the attack explained why it was so hard to score or even shot on target. This is something that happened along the second half as well.
In the minute 38th, after a counterattack, Ifeoma Onumonu dribbled the keeper Sarah Bouhaddi outside the box and had no difficulties scoring for the visitors, 1-0. One of the lowlights on that play was Quinn, as it missed the position leaving Onumonu completely alone before dribbling the goalkeeper. Sam Hiatt tried to reach the nigerian forward with no success.
The second goal for Gotham arrived in the 60th minute, when Nahomi Kawasumi assisted Margaret “Midge” Purce with a beautiful lob pass which went above Sam Hiatt and left no chance for Bouhaddi, 2-0.
During the second half, it was evident that OL Reign players were becoming clueless as they weren’t effective on the offensive plays. This was also noted by the coach Farid Benstiti. Three substitutions came on the 65’, when Kirsten McNabb, Angelina and Bethany Balcer replaced Sam Hiatt, Shirley Cruz and Megan Rapinoe.
With five minutes left to the end, Dominique Richardson ran through the area, beat the defenders and scored the third goal that gave the visitors three points, 3-0.
Angelina and Bethany Balcer: The OL Reign icebreakers
After the substitutions on the 65th minute, the Tacoma-based team started taking advantage of the intensity provided by Fishlock and the wingers. Bethany Balcer helped a lot to improve the wiring between the midfielders and the forwards working as a swiss-army knife, but also Angelina, the 21-year-old Brazilian midfielder, became relevant while setting the timing of the team.
The biggest takeaway of this game is how important Bethany Balcer and Angelina are on this team, supporting Jess Fishlock by starting the attack and also being the front line when defending. Balcer has been stellar this season, as she has been constantly shifting between the forward and midfielder positions, helping to fill the spaces uncovered by the rest of the team. Both players, when supporting an inspired Fishlock, could easily become the best attacking trio of the NWSL.
The Reign will travel to Houston next Friday (July 2), as they’ll face Houston Dash at 5:30pm (Pacific). NY/NJ Gotham FC will host Kansas City NWSL that same day at 7pm (East).